Safety razor



J. C. FRIEL SAFETY RAZOR Dec. 28, 1943.

Filed Jan. '7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l QIWMVM Dec. 28, 1943. J c EL2,337,595

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Jan. 7, 19415 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 i i l i n u n l I Ii i I i vL/T 5. Erie] Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- SAFETY RAZOR James C. Friel, Beverly, Mass. Application January7, 1943, Serial No. 471,591

9 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type which carries a honein operative proximity to the blade, normally retracted from the shavingedge but arcuately reciprocable in surface contact with said edge whenthe razor is shaken, for sharpening the blade.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a razor of the typedescribed, equally adapted, both from the standpoint of shaving-andhoning, to take a blade either of the conventional single edge or doubleedge fo'rm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor in which theforward portion of the blade, of either type, positioned at properhoning angle, rests against the hone, just back of the bevel of theshaving edge when the parts are in shaving position, with means bearingresiliently against said blade close to the region at which the bladerests against the hone, for bringing the blade into continuous contactwith the hone from end to end so that when the hone slides out beneaththe edge of the blade, the latter will make continuous contact with thehone. This provision is necessitated through the fact that more oftenthan not, razor blades are not truly planiform but have a wind, so thatonly a portion of a longitudinal element of a blade will touch astraight edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide the razor with bladepositioning means for either type of blade, coacting therewith toprevent forward, backward or lateral displacement of the blade, butpermitting free upward movement of the rearward portion of the bladeresponsive to depression of any longitudinal portion of the forward partby the said resilient means, thereby avoiding distortion of the blade,which distortion would create uneven pressure between the edge of theblade and the hone.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means foradjusting the pivot about which the hone swings, so as to compensate forwear which would cause the hone to fail to make contact with the blade.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds:

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of the followingspecification, and throughout the several figures of which the samecharacters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a razor embodying the principles ofthe subject invention cooperating with a wafer blade of the double edgetyp Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same:

Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the head portion of the razor shownin cooperation with a single edged blade;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the razor shown in Figure 3, with theclamping cover omitted;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the razor shown in Figure 1, with theclamping cover omitted;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the razor head, theclamping cover being in open position;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cross head and thimble;

Figures 9 and 10 show, respectively, a typical single edge and doubleedge blade for both of which the subject razor is adapted.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral l representsthe razor as a whole, which as shown, consists of the head 2 and thehollow stem or handle 3 iixed thereto in any suitable manner, as by thelugs 4, formed on the end oi' the stem 3, which penetrate apertures 5 inthe head member and are overturned, as shown, on the inside of said headmember.

The head 2 comprises a base plate 6 having an upturned flange at therear, adapted to form a back stop for the arcuately reciprocable hone 8.Send hone comprises a plate with arcuate upper surface of such nature asto have a fine abrasive action upon the edge of the razor blade.Castlron has this property. A plate of any suitable material upon whichan abrasive substance may be spread also fills the requirement, or theplate may be made of a suitable abrasive composition.

The hone 8 is mounted upon a carrier plate 9, which as shown at I0, ispivotally mounted at the upper end of a swinging lever II, the lower endof which is pivotally mounted at l2 within the stem 3. When the hone isin the retracted positlon shown in Figure l, which is the shavingposition of the razor, the lever II is housed within the stem 3. Whenthe hone is in extended position, the lever ll issues through a slot l3in the stem 3. Said lever has a reduced portion l4 near its lower endwhich abuts the wall of the stem 3 at the point I5, beneath the slot l3,the forward movement of the hone being thus limited.

'Ilhe length of the lever I I is such that the hone reciprocates overthe base plate 6 out of contact with the same. Said base plate at itforward end carries the shaving guard l6.

The subject razor is devised to take either a single edge blade, such asis shown at II in Figure 9. or the double edge wafer blade, such as isshown at IS in Figure 10. The single edge blade is bound on one sidewithin a folded metal strip l9.

The subject invention provides means for holding either of these bladesat the proper shaving and honing angle and in such a manner that theywill not become displaced in a forward, backward or sidewise direction.This is an im portant feature when it is considered that .the razor ishoned by shaking it back and forth so that in the absence of suitablerestraints the blade would readily become displaced.

Now, referring to the head construction, as shown in Figure 6, it willbe observed that the base plate 6 has the identical upstanding endflanges, one of which is shown at 20. These end flanges, as shown, areeach formed of a piece of metal folded upon itself to provide an innerwing 2| The wings 2| are spaced from the base plate 6 so as to let thehone 8 slide beneath said wings into contact with the back stop 1.

' The end flanges 20 are each provided with a recess 22, the bottom 23of which slopes upwardly and rearwardly to support the wafer blade atthe proper honing angle. The projecting ends 24 of the wafer blade restupon the bottoms 23 of said recesses. The forward wall of each recessforms an upstanding shoulder 25 acting as a forestop for the waferblade, and the rear wall of said recess is formed with a slot 26defining an overhang 21 which retains the blade. It is important to notethat the slot 26 throughout its extent is wider than the thickness ofthe wafer blade, so that the rear portion of said blade has some freedomof upward movement within said slot. The back wall 28 of said slot formsa back stop for the wafer blade. The wafer blade is restrained againstlateral movements which would tend to displace it from the recesses 22,by means of the inwardly extending ledges 29 which closely confront theends of the narrower longitudinal portion of the wafer blade, as shownin Figure 5. In placing the wafer blade in the razor, its projectingends are preferably grasped between the thumb and forefinger, slippedbeneath the overhangs 21 and permitted to rest upon the inclined bottoms23 of the recesses 20 with the shoulders 25 confronting the forwardsides of the projecting portions 24.

The inclination of the bottoms 23 of the recesses is such that when thewafer blade is positioned in the manner described, at least part of theforward longitudinal portion of said razor rests against the hone 8. Thephrase at least" is used advisedly, for experience has shown that mostsafety razor blades are not planiform throughout, but have a wind, dueto exigencies in their manufacture, so that their longitudinal elementswill not coincide throughout their length with a straight edge. In orderto bring the longitudinal forward part of the blade against the honecontinuously throughout its length, to the end that the edge of theblade also will contact the hone throughout its length, when the honeslides into honing position, a clamping cover 30 is provided. This coverhinges about a rod 3| fixed at its ends to the side flanges 20 adjacenttheir upper rear ends and bridging the head of the razor. The clampingcover 30, as

/ hook 31 ed upon itself to form the forward edge 32, and extendingbackward upon itself to a point adjacent the rod 3|, where it is bent toform a channel 33 about said rod resiliently engaging said rod. The topof the rod is flattened so that when the clamping cover approachesclosed position, it is biased against the blade by the resilient actionof the channel 33 which forces the clamping cover 30 against the flatupper side of the rod 3|. When the clamping cover is opened, the forwardside 34 of the channel 33 engages the flat side of the rod 3|, holdingthe clamping cover in open position. A thumb hold 35 at the rear of theclamping cover affords convenient means for opening the same.

It will be observed in Figure 3 that when the clamping cover is closed,the forward edge 32 thereof engages the forward portion of the waferblade longitudinally throughout its length, pressing the blade intocontinuous contact with the hone 8, from end to end. The fact that theslot 26 is wider than the thickness of the blade, permits the rearportion of the blade to rise responsive to the depression of any forwardportion thereof by the engagemen of the edge 32 with the forward portionof sai lade. This prevents distortion of the blade, whioh' itis obviouswould cause the forward portion of the blade to bear with unequalpressure throughout the length of its contact with the hone.

Referring once again to Figure 6;=,and to the inner wings 2|, each ofthese is provided with a. recess 36 of such width and depth as toreceive the folded metal strip l9 constituting the back side of thesingle edge blade H. The forward wall of said recess is formed as anupstanding which engages the under edge of the folded metal strip l9,acting as a front stop for the blade. The rear wall of therecess 36 isconstituted by the inwardly extending ledges 29 which have already beendescribed as functioning as lateral stops for the wafer blade. Theseledges also act as back stops for the single edge blade. The bottom wall38 of the recess 36 has the same inclinationas the bottom wall 23 of therecess 20, so that the single edge blade is positioned at the samehoning angle as the wafer blade l8.

The fact that the carrier plate 9 is pivoted transversely with respectto the length of the razor blade, permits the hone 8 to rock to one sideor the other in the attempt to coincide with shown, is made of a pieceof sheet material foldthe razor blade resting upon it. However, therocking of the hone is definitely about a central axis and will notoften correspond to the wind or twist affecting the blade. Consequently,the resilient pressure of the edge 32 of the clamping cover is essentialto produce perfect coincidence of the blade with the hone throughout itslongitudinal extent. It is not essential, however, that the hone berockably mounted, for if the hone be rigidly mounted perpendicular tothe lever II and the edge 32 of the clamping cover be parallel to thelongitudinal elements of the hone, the resilient pressure of the edge 32upon the forward part of the blade will effect the desired perfectcoincidence of the forward portion of the blade with the hone.

In operation, when the razor is grasped for shaving, the thumb is placedover the slot l3 so that the lever II is retained within the stem 3 andthe hone in the retracted position shown in Figure 1. When it is desiredto hone the blade, the thumb is shifted away from the slot l3 and therazor shaken a few times to reciprocate the hone arcuately against theedge of the blade. Shaving may then be resumed. After a long period ofuse, the pivotal connection H of the lever ll might, in the absence ofthe structure herein provided, develop a degree of looseness which wouldcause the hone to fail to make contact with the edge of the blade withsufl'iclent pressure to sharpen it. In order to compensate for-suchwear, and to regulate the pressure with which the hone operates upon theedge of the razor blade, I have mounted the pivot I2 upon a cross head,which makes a friction fit within the bore of the steni 3. This crosshead may be of any desired construction, but as here shown; it consistsof a sheet metal member 39 slotted and bent so as to provideupper andlower arcuate portions 40 fitting against the inner wall of the stem 3.The lower end of the lever II is bifurcated, straddles the web 4| of thecross head 39, and is pivoted thereto. The lower end of the cross head39 is loosely riveted as at 42 to a thimble 43, frictionally fittedwithin the lower end of the stem 3 and having a knurled knob 44 whichmay be screwed into said thimble, permitting the thimble to be pushedslidably inwardly or outwardly, by which means the desired adjustment ofthe hone with respect to the 'edge of the blade is secured. The thimblemay serve as a container for a stick of abrasive compound to be used onthe hone.

While I have in the above description defined what I believe to be apreferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will beundenstood to those skilled in the art that the specific details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as shown, are illustrative of thespecific form of the invention, and not to be regarded as limiting thescope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Safety razor adapted for alternative use with a conventional doubleedge or single edge blade comprising a head having side flanges, eachside flange being formed with an inner and outer recess, the outerrecesses of both flanges being adapted to receive the extendedintermediate end portions of a two-edge blade, the inner recesses ofbothfianges being adapted to receive the thick back portion of a singleedge blade, both the inner and outer recesses having bottom bladesupporting walls inclined to support the blade at the proper shavingangle, and of such relative depth as to position the forward portion ofthe respective blades in substantially the same plane, said outerrecesses having front and back walls forming stops limiting the forwardand backward movement of the double edge blade, said inner recesseshaving front walls adapted to engage the adjacent front edge of thethick back of the single edge blade to limit forward movement of saidblade, said inner recesses having rear walls extending inwardly andabove the plane of the bottom walls of the outer recesses,-functioningas back stops for the single edge blade and as lateral stops engageablewith the ends of the rear relatively short portion of the double edgeblade and means engageable with the forward portion of the blade forholding it at proper shaving angle 2. Safety razor as claimed in claim1, including a hone reciprocable forwardly and backwardly between saidflanges in a path embracing the edge of either blade when held inposition in its respective recesses.

3. Safety razor as claimed in claim 1, includinga hone reciprocableforwardly and backwardly between said flanges in a path embracing theedge of either blade when held in position in its respective recesses,said hone having a retracted position, in which position it is withdrawninwardly from the common forward edge position of either blade.

4. Safety razor comprising a head including a base plate havingupstanding side flanges, a stem secured to said base plate, a leverpivoted relative to said stem, a hone at the upper end of said leverreciprocable in a forward and backward direction between said flangesclose to said base plate when said razor is shaken, said side flangesbeing formed with blade positioning seats inclined downwardly andforwardly and terminating rearwardly of the forward portion of 6. Safetyrazor adapted for alternative use with a conventional double edge orsingle edge blade comprising a head having side flanges, each sideflange being formed with an inner and outer recess, the outer recessesof both flanges being adapted to receive the extended intermediate endportions of a two-edge blade, the inner recesses of both flanges beingadapted to receive the thick back portion of a single edge blade, a

stem secured to said head, a lever pivoted relative to said stem, a honeat the upper end of said lever reciprocable in a forward and backwarddirection between said flanges below said recesses when said razor isshaken, both the inner and outer recesses having bottom blade supportingwalls, and being of such relative depth as to position the forwardportion of the respective blades in substantially the same plane, saidouter recesses having front and back walls forming stops limiting theforward and backward movement of the double edge blade, said innerrecesses having front walls adapted to engage the adjacent front edge ofthe thick back of the single edge blade to limit forward movement ofsaid blade, said inner recesses having rear walls extending inwardly andabove the plane of the bottom walls of the outer recesses, functioningas back stops for the single edge blade and as lateral stops engageablewith the ends of the rear relatively short portion of the double edgeblade, said recesses terminating rearwardly of the forward portion ofeither blade, permitting the forward portion to rest against said hone,a resiliently actuated cover clamp engageable with the forward portionsolely of either blade for bringing it into continuous contact with saidhone from end to end, said recesses being formed to permit free rise ofany longitudinal part of the rear of said razor responsive to thedepression of any longitudinal part of the forward portion of said razorby said cover clamp.

7. Safety razor adapted for alternative use with a conventional doubleedge or single edge blade, comprising a head including a base platehaving upstanding side flanges, a stem secured to said base plate, alever pivoted relative to 4- aaamas said stem, a hone at the free end ofsaid lever reciprocable in a forward and backward direction between saidflanges close to said base plate when said razor is shaken, said sideflanges being formed with blade positioned seats, a pair shaped toreceive and position a conventional I double edge blade and a pairshaped to receive atively placed in a front to back direction as tobring the forward edge positions of both blades into coincidence, aresiliently actuated cover clamp engageable with the forward portionsolely of either. blade for bringing it into continuous longitudinalcontact with said hone from end to end.

8. Safety razor comprising a head includin T a base plate havingupstanding side flanges, a stem secured to said base plate, a leverpivoted relative to said stem, a hone member at the upper end of saidlever including a hone and a shaving guard forwardly of said hone, saidhone member being reciprocable in a forward and backward directionbetween said flanges close to said base plate when said razor is shakesaid side flanges being formed with blade positioning seats inclineddownwardly and forwardly and terminating rearwardly of the forwardportion of the blade permitting the forward portion to rest against saidhone, a resiliently actuated cover clamp engageable with the forwardportions solely of the blade for bringing it into con- 1o tinuallongitudinal contact with the hone from end to end, said hone memberhaving a retractedposition in which the hone is rearward of the shavingedge of the blade and the guard is in operative position relative tosaid edge.

15 9. safety razor including a head and a hollow stem secured to saidhead, means for supporting a blade in shaving and honing position insaid head, a. longitudinally adjustable cross head in said stem, a leverpivoted to said cross head 20 swingable through aslot in said stem, ahone at the free end of said lever reciprocable, when said razor isshaken, into honing engagement with said blade, and means accessible atthe free end of said stem for moving said cross head 25 to adjust thecontact of said hone'with said blade.

mums 0. mm.

